| 27 January 2004 | Tuesday | 04 Zilhaj 1424 |
What America stands for
Remembering K. L. Saigal
'Report on madressahs'
Sighting of moon
Musharraf's commitments
Transgressed right of way
Quotas for A level students
Withdrawal of gas subsidy
Woes of old pensioners
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The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and others have been blaming the MMA left and right for its help in providing legal cover to the present set-up. Many people had always considered the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal to be the "B" team of the government. They thought it was the handiwork of government agencies a la the IJI.
According to their theory, the Establishment did not want to take any chances this time. They wanted to have it both ways: a hand-picked party in the saddle and another of the same feathers in the opposition. To achieve that end they amended the rules of the game and ensured that the leaders of the two major political parties couldn't campaign or participate in the elections while the MMA was given a freehand to secure unprecedented success at the polls.
Talking about politics in Pakistan, one never knows for sure what lies beneath the surface. Maybe all the allegations against the MMA are true. Maybe they are only partially true.
But one wonders what could be the excuse of the ARD for its incomprehensible paralysis? Why is it in complete disarray? Why does it seem so rudderless? Why has it allowed itself to be marginalized? Why has it failed to spearhead a movement against the undemocratic, military dominated government? What are its weaknesses? Has it ever tried to take the stock of things? Why some of its leaders are looking to either a divine hand or a nod from a foreign power? Why do they want to come to power one more time after reaching some kind of a "deal" brokered by some intermediary? Don't they already know that power attained with the help of "deals" and "compromises" isn't worth anything and doesn't last for long?
The situation here needs to be tackled more realistically and urgently. It has been now 56 years since the country came into being, but the people have yet to taste the fruits of independence. For most part of its history, the country has been ruled by dictatorships. There has almost always been an alliance of the army, the feudals and the bureaucracy at the helm. Many religious elements have continuously been patronized. For most part, the country either didn't have a constitution, or if there was one, it was either abrogated, violated or was put in abeyance. There is no rule of law and corruption reigns supreme. The country remains divided and many people complain of injustices.
The main reason for all the ills is the unrepresentative rule and the disenfranchisement of the people. It all seems pathetic but everything is not lost yet. The situation could still be saved if civil society comes together and asserts itself in the affairs of the state. Can it happen?
AZIZ NAREJO
Corpus Christi, TX., USA
What America stands for
I respectfully rebut Mr Ghulam Muhammad's letter (January 24) regarding what he thinks America stands for. Let me start with what we stood for while I served in your good country from 1963-65 with the old US embassy in Karachi.
We stood for more and better Pakistani agri-economics in the form of a great chicken ranch set up in suburban Karachi, and initially guided in operational management by agriculture experts from the University of Connecticut. Helping Pakistanis feed their large population is the point.
We stood for help with both the cost and engineering of the Mangla Dam in northern Pakistan. This great dam in turn stood for clean energy, irrigation of farmlands, improved interior fishing for Pakistanis to feed themselves, new, additional light and heavy industries, run by hydroelectric power creating jobs for Pakistanis. Pakistani across-the-board self-sufficiency is the point here.
We stood shoulder to shoulder with Pakistan and all its people in our common fight against world communism, wherein we all were members then of both Cento and Seato.
Today, we stand with the government of Pakistan in our common fight against worldwide terrorism. A terrorism which murders men, women, and children indiscriminately seeking to achieve rule by terror, as formerly was the case in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.
Pakistan has been blessed by US concern, help and investment, as well as what the late president, Eisenhower, referred to as our people-to-people programmes.
Millions of Pakistani pensioners are just now starting to get properly vested pension payments in their old age, thanks to the turnaround of the economy of Pakistan, which is a direct result of more and better US, UN, IMF, World Bank and free world investment, all being done as a thank you to Pakistan for joining the war against terrorism. Pakistan stands ready to be reintegrated into the Commonwealth economic order, and is on the cusp at long last of a peaceful and permanent resolution of the wasteful Kashmir crisis. The wants and wishes of and for the people of all of Kashmir and Jammu are close to being realized.
Long live a constantly better and more open Pakistani society which respects the rights and needs of all the good people, including its ethnic and Christian minorities. All Muslims living and working in the US today continue to experience the best life currently achievable by their own human energy and effort on the fact of the earth.
Mr Ghulam Muhammad should come to the United States to see for himself, instead of spouting hateful and false propaganda. A US democratic model which when applied to the uniqueness of Pakistan's demography will always help your good people live a better life.
COLONEL (RETD) GEORGE L. SINGLETON
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Remembering K. L. Saigal
This is with reference to Mr Ayaz Amir's column "K. L. Saigol: 1904-46" (January 16). He has missed a number of points and some of his statements are incorrect.
I agree with Khalid Hassan (January 18) that K. L. Saigal was not born in Jullunder but in Jammu where his father was a tehsildar. His mother was an ardent Hindu and as a boy K. L. Saigal attended all the religious ceremonies with her in mandirs, singing bhajans and dancing as a part of Hindu religion, and from his childhood he got interested in music and singing.
I also agree with Mr Asif Noorani and Mr P. Harimohan that his surname was Saigal, and not Saigol. He was born in a middle class family and initially worked in the Remington Company as a salesman selling typewriters. In Kolkatta he had the opportunity to meet some film directors and producers who appreciated his talents and introduced him to Pankaj Mullick.
Saigal was not only a renowned singer but also the greatest superstar of his time and outshone all the others in acting. He came to be known as "Devdas" (1935) after the release of his super-hit film of the same name. K. L. Saigal also sang all the songs of the film. Dukh key din ab beetat naheen and Piya bin naheen aye chain were the most popular songs of those days.
Shahrukh Khan in his extravaganza was far behind. Pakistani Devdas, in which Habib was the hero, was a copy of the Indian film Aah and did not click at the box-office.
Saigal reportedly needed a drink to sing, but the great music director Khwaja Khurshid Anwar insisted he should sing without drinking, and all his songs of Parwana (1947), Jeenay ka Dhang, Toot gaye sab sapne meray and Uss mast nazar pe pari were recorded when he was sober.
Saigal played the hero in a number of films. His first as an actor was Mohabbat kay ansoo (1930) which flopped at the box-office, but both his company, New Theatre, and he were not discouraged. His next film Pooran Bhagat(1932) was a hit. Two bhajans sung by him in the films became very popular. This was the beginning of his glory and he never looked back. Chandi Das (1933) and Yahudi ki Larki (1934) were big hits. Devdas (1935) was his great success.
He became a living legend not only in Kolkatta but all over the subcontinent. He worked in 36 films, 29 Urdu/Hindi and seven Bangla, and rendered 250 songs, most of them were superhits. Nearly 100 of them were non-film ditties.
DR IRSHAD AHMAD SETHI
Karachi
'Report on madressahs'
The editorial "Report on madressahs" (January 20) has assessed the emergence of the madressah institution in the Muslim world, its role and causes of its subsequent decline.
As regards the inception of this institution I would like to differ for the reason that 'Nizamyah', established by Nizam ul Mulk Tusi (1067), the grand vizier of Saljuk Sultans Alp Arslan and Malik Shah, was not the first madressah in the Muslim world. As early as the 10th century, we find Al-Mukaddsi praising very fine madressahs of Iran Shaher.
Al-Makrizi and Al-Sayuti confirmed that in Nishapur especially, where studies were vigorously prosecuted in the mosques, many such institutions arose. A madressah was built by Al-Nishpuri (960) and Abu Ali al Husayni (1003), which was attended by 1,000 scholars.
Likewise, Ibn Faruk, Abu al Kassim al Kushayri (1045) and Rukundin al Isfaraini (1027) built schools which surpassed all others. The establishment of Bait-ul-Hikmat by Caliph Mamun al Rashid (812) needs special mention here, though this institution could not survive the orthodox reaction of Caliph Mutawakkil. In the first half of the 11th century there were the following famous madressahs imparting education and knowledge in Nishapur:
a) Al-Madressah al-Bayhakiyya founded by al Bayhaki (1066).
b) Al-Saidiyya founded by Amir Nasr B. Sebuktigin (999).
c) Al-Madressah founded by Abu Sad Ismail Astarabadi.
d) Al-Madressah founded by Abu Ishaq Isfaraini.
The Nizamyah and Mustansirya (built by Caliph AI-Mustanzir in 1234) survived the destruction of Baghdad by Halaku; lbn Batuta mentions both at the beginning of the 14th century, and the building of the latter still exists.
The madressahs continued thriving uninterrupted in the western part of the Muslim world, specially in Syria, Egypt, Tunis and Morocco as these lands were saved from the ravages of Mongol hordes. Similarly, these institutions worked unhindered in Andalusia till the fall of Grenada (1492).
It is, however, rightly propounded that from the 19th century onwards this institution saw a decline in vigour and dynamism.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
Sighting of moon
The news about sighting of the moon published in Dawn of January 23 says: "The Zilhijj moon has not been sighted in any part of the country
and Eidul Azha will, therefore, be celebrated on Monday (February 2)."
Is it correct from the Islamic point of view to declare celebration of a festival on the basis of not sighting the moon? It would be proper in such cases that the Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee sits for the next day again and declares when a event will be celebrated after sighting or having got the moon sighted by others.
A.M. SAYIED
Karachi
Musharraf's commitments
To fulfil a constitutional obligation, General Pervez Musharraf recently addressed the joint sitting of parliament whose members he had earlier derided. And then, instead of spelling out policies of the Jamali government, he focused on his achievements and made new promises, forgetting that after he had assumed power as chief executive, instead of chief martial law administrator, on October 12, 1999, he had made the following commitments in his seven-point agenda:
- To reconstruct national trust and morale,
- to strengthen the federation and promote harmony among the provinces,
- to mend the economy to restore investors' confidence,
- to ensure the rule of law and quick dispensation of justice,
- to devolve power to the grass roots so as to enable them to participate in national affairs,
- to rid the national institutions of politics,
- and to conduct impartial accountability.
What General Musharraf has achieved so far is that he has had a political party formed, namely the PML-Q, comprising disgruntled and opportunist politicians who are are representing the people of Pakistan in the National Assembly.
His promises of ensuring impartial accountability, rule of law and dispensation of quick justice are still unfulfilled, and the ground realities are as they were before October 12, 1999. There is no large-scale investment in industries, and remittances of over four billion dollars from expatriate Pakistanis have been invested in non-productive sectors of real estate and stock shares, resulting in higher prices of land and shares. Poverty is not reducing, and the number of illiterates is increasing because education is not a top priority of the government.
Similarly, corruption-free governance is still a dream, and the provinces do not have autonomy to manage their own resources. The parliamentary system is still in place, and there is no sign of its replacement by the presidential form of government. Local governments are involved in corruption, and the common citizens are still suffering as their problems have not solved yet.
To make his new promises trustworthy, General Musharraf should replace the four provinces with 134 districts as new provinces, bring in the presidential form of government and eliminate the provincial assemblies which have failed to serve the people of Pakistan.
The district nazims can act as provincial governors, with all powers to look after the welfare of their districts, and finances from the federal government on the basis of each district's population.
The dangers to the country hinted at by the general are known to every thoughtful Pakistani. The question is: who is responsible for the mess the country is in today? Are they the politicians or past military rulers?
Now General Musharraf has an opportunity to make history by getting the Kashmir issue resolved and by opening the borders with India, Iran, China and Afghanistan to create a free zone.
ENGR. S. T. HUSSAIN
Lahore
Transgressed right of way
We the concerned citizens of Karachi hereby record our protest at the outrage being perpetrated against the interests of the citizens of Karachi by the arbitrary appropriation and closure of a section of Khayaban-i-Shaheen, adjacent to the respective premises of L'ecole, The DHA Early Learning Centre and the DHA "O and A" Level School, by the Defence Housing Authority, reportedly for the facilitation of the Creek City construction project. There are a number of other schools further down the road, namely Bayview Academy and Education Bay, that will also be affected by this action.
As a result of this, part of a double-lane public highway has overnight been converted into a single-lane road. This is one of the worst instances of transgression of the right of way of citizens. Furthermore, the horrendous traffic congestion that will inevitably follow will impact negatively on the well being of the educational institutions and the students directly affected - let alone the multitudinous occupants of the future Creek City!
The fact that this has been authorized by a defence service organization is a matter of even greater concern. The defence agencies are already the subject of criticism for their unilateral approach to matters of national concern. This step will be seen as further signifying disregard of the interest of civil society.
CONCERNED CITIZENS
Karachi
Quotas for A level students
This is with reference to the letter "NED admissions policy" (December 13). Running a society on quotas is not the best way to prepare ourselves for the challenges of the 21st century. We need a human resource base that can bring about a knowledge revolution in the country.
All admissions to higher educational institutions should be made on merit, and not on distinctions based on the HSC (intermediate) system or the A level system. If at all we need to develop a system, it can only be that all admissions can have a weightage of 50 per cent to an entrance test and 50 per cent to the grades/marks achieved by the student in the HSC board/A level examinations.
The policy of the NED University and other universities to establish such quotas for engineering courses should be done away with immediately in order to promote a culture of merit and knowledge for the future.
I request Dr Atta-ur-Rehman, chairman of the Higher Education Commission, and Zubaida Jalal, the minister of education, to take note of the demand of A level students and to instruct the higher educational institutions to reform their admission policies.
SHAISTA JABEEN
Karachi
Withdrawal of gas subsidy
According to news reports, the minister for petroleum and natural resources has informed the Senate that the government has decided to withdraw the subsidy in gas tariff given to the fertilizer factories. He has also stated that the subsidy is being withdrawn owing to fiscal losses to the gas companies, and to ensure payment of gas royalty to Balochistan.
This is a decision of far-reaching effects, not for fertilizer factories that will pass on their additional financial burden to the consumers by increasing the price of fertilizers, but for the agriculture sector of the country, the total economics of which will have to be reworked.
I am sure the government must have examined the implications of this decision. If it has not done so, it should better do it urgently. And, as is usual with the government, if it is not done, this fast-deteriorating sector will worsen.
SYED MOHSIN RIZVI
Lahore
Woes of old pensioners
This refers to the news item "Pensioners can be classified as old, new: SC" (January 10). Islam, we are taught, does not create divisions and treats all at par. This decision has affected thousands of old pensioners. Regrettably, two classes, i.e. the privileged and the underprivileged, have come into being in our society, in violation of the concept of Adl, as enunciated in Islamic principles, and also in violation of fundamental rights.
It is, however, encouraging to know that both the executive and the judiciary belong to the same school of thought - this will save us from confusion.
Any caring and people-friendly government would have worked out a formula to look after those who served the country with equal honesty, loyalty, dedication and sense of purpose.
KHAWJA MUHAMMAD AZHAR
Karachi
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